Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8)

The Section 8 (Housing Choice Voucher) Program is a federally funded, locally administered rental assistance program for assisting very low-income families, the elderly, and the disabled to afford decent, safe, and sanitary housing in the private market.

A family that is issued a housing voucher is responsible for finding a suitable housing unit of the family's choice where the owner agrees to rent under the program. This unit may include the family's present residence. Rental units must meet minimum standards of health and safety, as determined by the Public Housing Authority (PHA).

A housing subsidy is paid to the landlord directly by the PHA on behalf of the participating family. The family then pays the difference between the actual rent charged by the landlord and the amount subsidized by the program.

NECAC also offers the Family Self Sufficiency program and the Homeownership program to current participants of the Section 8 program. The Family Self Sufficiency program is designed to help families live without assistance. The Homeownership program provides eligible individuals and families the opportunity to purchase their own home.